Writing As a Form of Healing and Self-Care
By: Rosey Lee
I like making up stories. At first, writing was just something I did for fun when I was a kid, but it’s becoming an important part of my contribution to addressing health disparities. That part was planned, but I didn’t expect writing to evolve into such a vital part of my own self-care.
I write fiction using a pen name. My alter ego is a physician, so it’s probably not surprising that my stories feature health themes. I intentionally write characters with symptoms of depression and anxiety—some symptoms are obvious, and others are more subtle. Given the high rates of depression and anxiety in the Black community, it’s my way of helping to address stigma around mental health. Until we start looking at mental health conditions in the same way we view high blood pressure, diabetes, and other chronic conditions, we won’t make any real progress in closing the health inequities that my alter ego works to fight on a daily basis.
“Until we start looking at mental health conditions in the same way we view high blood pressure, diabetes, and other chronic conditions, we won’t make any real progress in closing the health inequities.”
I aim to write relatable characters with relatable problems. Over the past couple years, writing about my characters’ issues have helped me to process challenges and trauma in my own life. Writing has become a second job. But even though I have less free time, I don’t feel weighed down. As I’ve committed to carving out time to write, I’ve had to ask myself tough questions about how I’ve spent my time in the past, and I had to make some changes. This hasn’t been easy, but I’ve learned important lessons about honoring myself and my time. Some relationships haven’t survived the transition. Others have gotten a second wind. Change can be challenging, but that doesn’t make it any less needed.
My self-care has been worth it. I’ve become a better writer. I’ve felt more creative as I’ve become less stressed. If you’re curious about the product that resulted, I hope you’ll check out my new collection of flash fiction stories about family relationships and the lessons many of us have to learn as we deal with them. It’s called Beautiful, Complicated Family. Flash fiction stories are also called very short stories. There are 10 flash fiction stories in the entire collection, which takes most people 1 hour or less to read. And if you feel like it, start your own writing journey—whether it’s journaling or writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, graphic novels, or whatever. Let the transformative power of writing bring you the healing you deserve.
Do you already use writing as a tool in your healing journey? Are you thinking about starting? If you feel comfortable, please share about it below. Let’s support each other.
Rosey Lee is the author of Beautiful, Complicated Family: Volume 1 and Beautiful, Complicated Family: Volume 2, which explore the connections that can hold people together or tear them apart. The stories in this collection capture struggles that are common in today’s families—secrets, mother-daughter conflicts, coping with aging family members, and a more subtle question of what makes a family. The issues will seem familiar to you, but there are unexpected twists when you least expect them. The relatable characters and endings may pull at your heartstrings, so don’t be surprised if you laugh or cry along the way. Like most families, the relationships in this uplifting collection consist of intricate elements. Sometimes things get messy, but it’s always beautiful. Get Volume 1 free on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, and Tolino (Pricing may vary outside the US).